Lehigh Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A Lehigh County Medical Malpractice Lawyer Who Already Works With the Right Experts

You went to a Lehigh Valley hospital expecting to get better. Instead, you got worse. Now you’re facing a second surgery, missing paychecks, and lying awake wondering if any other doctor would dare say what really went wrong.

That fear is exactly why we exist. Under Pennsylvania law, a malpractice case is a negligence claim, and it runs on the same two-year filing deadline our dedicated Lehigh Valley personal injury lawyers work against in every injury case.

As Lehigh County medical malpractice lawyers, we already work with the physicians and specialists Pennsylvania law requires before a case like yours can even be filed, so you are not left searching for a doctor willing to go on record against a colleague.

We have recovered $500,000 for a client whose surgeon left a surgical sponge inside him after what should have been routine surgery, though past results don’t guarantee or predict any other outcome.

Every case is different, but we know what it takes to stand up to a hospital’s legal team and fight for the compensation your case may be worth.

The Lehigh Valley Malpractice Cases We Take On

We represent patients harmed by providers at Lehigh Valley Health Network, St. Luke’s University Health Network, and smaller practices throughout Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

The cases we take on include:

• Surgical errors, including sponges or instruments left inside a patient, or a procedure performed on the wrong body part
• Delayed or missed diagnoses, including strokes, cancer, and infections caught too late to treat effectively
• Medication errors, including wrong dosages, dangerous drug combinations, and pharmacy mistakes
• Birth injuries, including Erb’s palsy and cerebral palsy caused by oxygen deprivation during delivery
• Anesthesia errors that lead to lasting brain or nerve damage
• Hospital-acquired infections tied to unsterile equipment or unsanitary conditions

We also work with independent medical experts throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey to evaluate records quickly, so you’re not stuck waiting months just to learn whether you have a case.

If your situation isn’t listed here, reach out anyway.

Most malpractice claims don’t fit neatly into one category, and we can tell you quickly whether what happened to you is worth pursuing further.

What Pennsylvania’s Certificate of Merit Rule Means for Your Case

Pennsylvania makes medical malpractice cases harder to bring than an ordinary injury claim.

Before your case can move forward, a licensed medical professional has to review your records and put in writing that your care fell outside acceptable standards. This requirement is called a certificate of merit, and it comes from Pa.R.C.P. 1042.3. Skip it, or file it incorrectly, and a hospital’s attorneys can get your entire case thrown out before a judge ever hears what happened to you.

You’re also working against a deadline. Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(2), most Pennsylvania medical malpractice claims must be filed within 2 years of the negligent care, though the clock can start later if the harm wasn’t obvious right away. Waiting to see whether things improve on their own can cost you the right to recover anything at all.

We already work with the physicians who can review your records and put their name behind what went wrong, so this requirement is one less thing standing in the way of your case moving forward.

This reflects Pennsylvania law as of August 2026.

Knowing this in advance is the difference between a case that survives and one dismissed before it starts.

What a Lehigh County Medical Malpractice Recovery Can Look Like

Santini Personal Injury & Car Accident Law has recovered $500,000 for a client whose surgeon left a surgical sponge inside him during a routine procedure, a mistake that caused sepsis and a second, unplanned hospitalization. We brought in medical experts who could explain exactly what went wrong, and we identified everyone responsible, from the surgeon’s own hands to the hospital’s policies.

This result reflects the kind of detailed investigation every case in our office receives, whether the claim involves a surgical mistake, a missed diagnosis, or a birth injury.

Every malpractice case is different, and what your case is worth depends on your medical records, your recovery, and the strength of the expert opinion behind it.

Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any other case.

Answers for Lehigh County Patients Considering a Malpractice Claim

Have you handled cases involving Lehigh Valley Health Network or St. Luke’s?

Yes. We’ve represented patients harmed at hospitals and practices throughout the Lehigh Valley and Northampton County, and we work with Pennsylvania-licensed physicians who can evaluate what happened at any local facility, large or small. We take the time to request your full medical chart directly from the hospital or practice involved, so nothing gets lost between departments.

What does it cost to hire a Lehigh County medical malpractice lawyer?

Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency basis, which means you pay $0 in attorney’s fees unless we recover money for you. There’s also no cost for the initial phone call, whether or not you decide to move forward with us.

Do I need my own medical expert before I call you?

No. Pennsylvania requires a licensed professional’s written opinion before a malpractice case can be filed, but finding and working with that expert is our job. You don’t need to walk in with one.

How long do I have to file a malpractice claim in Pennsylvania?

Most claims must be filed within 2 years of the negligent care, though exceptions can apply if the harm wasn’t discovered right away. The safest move is to talk with an attorney as soon as you suspect something went wrong, not after you’ve waited to see if it heals on its own.

Can you file my case in Lehigh County even though your office is in New Jersey?

Yes. Attorney Frank Santini is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and regularly files cases at the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas for clients throughout the Lehigh Valley, even though our nearest physical office sits just across the Delaware River in Phillipsburg.

What are some common examples of medical negligence?

Surgical errors, delayed diagnoses, medication mistakes, anesthesia errors, and birth injuries are among the most common forms of medical negligence we see. Not every bad outcome in medicine is malpractice, though, and an attorney who reviews your records can help you tell the difference.

What compensation could I recover in a Lehigh County malpractice case?

You may be able to recover your medical bills, including the cost of the additional care needed to correct the malpractice, along with lost wages, pain and suffering, and in the most serious cases, compensation for a permanent disability. What you can recover depends on the extent of your injuries and the strength of the evidence in your case.

The hospital already apologized and said they’d waive some bills. Does that mean I don’t have a case?

Not necessarily. An apology or a waived bill is not the same as a legal admission of fault, and accepting it doesn’t waive your right to pursue a malpractice claim. It’s worth having an attorney review what happened before you sign anything the hospital sends you.

If you recognize your situation in any of these answers, reach out and let’s talk through the specifics of your case.

Talk to a Lehigh Medical Malpractice Lawyer About What Happened

You don’t need to have all the answers before you call. Bring us what you remember, any medical records you already have, and the questions keeping you up at night, and we’ll help you figure out whether what happened crosses the line into malpractice.

Contact Santini Personal Injury & Car Accident Law today to schedule a consultation.

You pay $0 unless we recover money for you, and there’s no cost to find out where you stand.

There’s no pressure and no obligation attached to that first conversation, just a clear answer about where things stand.